The first full day of my short break dawned bright and sunny with a refreshing sea breeze so I could hardly wait to set off on my explorations. However, a quick check of the weather forecast showed a deteriorating picture during the afternoon and heavy rain overnight, so I set off early, suitably equipped and anticipating a quick return to the campsite when necessary. I settled by the sea-wall looking towards Ravenscar, visible in the distant haze, with lowering clouds and the tide high, beating dramatically at the foot of the cliffs. I was sheltered a little by the building in the foreground which was typical of most of the tiny cottages and shops in the lower Bay, some dating back to the 18th century or thereabouts. I sketched in the basic composition and painted the sky, sea and distant cliffs quickly, taking photos to supplement my visual memory. I also added some of the foreground detail but didn't complete the picture at that point as I wanted to explore further. As the tide receded people began to stroll down the slipway, now fully uncovered, and meander on the beach. The dogs were getting restless, too, so we set off for a very enjoyable walk, although their first visit to the sea bemused them a little. As lunchtime approached I settled on a balcony near a beach cafe overlooking the shore, had a snack and drink and spent the rest of the afternoon doing a preliminary sketch of the shore. However, mid-afternoon the promised front moved in and I decided it was time to return to my little hut and complete the first sketch indoors and dry while there was still daylight. The next day was expected to be dry so I decided to do an extended walk along the disused railway to Ravenscar and return by the Cleveland. I didn't take my sketchbook and paints as it was a good walk but just took photos of the wonderful coastal views along the way, which I hope to work up in the studio later this year. On my last full day I returned to my balcony overlooking the shore and completed the previous sketch en plein air in the morning. I spent the rest of the day taking photographs of the narrow, winding alleys for further artistic inspiration and just exploring the historic village. It really is an artist's paradise with so many interesting details, textures and compositions. I do hope to return to the area again some time as there's still plenty to enjoy. Highly recommended.